NEMap-doton-Farnam, 2005
Farnam’s story
140 years in pictures
Census counts: 218 in 1900, a peak of 462 in 1910, 182 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1902 on.
- 1886Farnam is settled
FarnamNE
A town of 178, settled in 1886.
Photo: LoriLarson · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
178
2025 Census estimate · −0.6% since 2020
Typical home
$181K
+1.6% in a year
Household income
$45K
median
Median age
28.8
years
Jobs based here
30
A commuter town
Is Farnam a good place to live?
32% of residents live below the poverty line in Farnam, above both the Nebraska town median (11%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 2 of the 58 Nebraska towns we compare have a lower median age than Farnam. Farnam has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
178 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Farnam: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Farnam, and how to reach them.
PowerDawson Power District11.3¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVillage of Farnam water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet1 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Farnam’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Nebraska you can register online until 18 days before Election Day, in person until 11 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 18 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDawson County ClerkDawson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Apr 2024
ZIP code6902969029 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Farnam.
Housing
Farnam’s typical home value is about $181K
The typical Farnam home is worth about $181,000, up 1.6% in a year, 35% below the Nebraska typical home. Farnam’s median rent is $820 a month, close to Nebraska’s towns ($914 a month) and below U.S. towns ($1,185 a month).
$181KZillow home value
| Farnam | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $820 a month | $914 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 67% | 67% | 73% |
Typical home value
Farnam$181K
Nebraska$278K
+1.6%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commute
With 0.4 jobs for every working resident, most of Farnam’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave Farnam for work: only 0% work in town. Farnam’s average trip to work is 24 minutes. The top destinations are Cozad (14%), Lexington (12%) and Gothenburg (10%).
0%work in town
Where working residents work
In Farnam0%
Cozad14%
Lexington12%
Gothenburg10%
Kearney5%
25 mi
median commute distance
30
jobs based in Farnam
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Farnam has four seasons and pleasant summers
Farnam has cold, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 88°, January nights drop to 15° and about 31 inches of snow falls in a winter.
31″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–41°
Spring36–63°
Summer60–85°
Fall38–65°
Oct 12
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
A smaller share of adults in Farnam sleep under 7 hours than in the typical Nebraska or U.S. town
26% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Farnam. Farnam beats the Nebraska average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 3. 19% of adults binge drink in Farnam.
| Farnam | Nebraska towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 31% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 14% | 17% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 18% | 23% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 30% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Nebraska
5 better24 too close to call3 worse
| What stands out | Farnam | NE |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 5.5% | 12.4% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 5% | 6.4% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.6% | 8.3% |
Cozad Community Hospital
16.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazards
Hail leads a moderate hazard risk in Farnam
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 55% of U.S. communities.
55risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
HailInland floodingDrought
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Farnam
16pages on Farnam
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Farnam; the nearest are
Nebraska College of Technical AgricultureCommunity college · Public · Curtis16.2 mi$5,926 in-state tuitionUniversity of Nebraska at KearneyUniversity or college · Public · Kearney58.5 mi$8,676 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Farnam residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Nebraska.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Farnam for work
Where Farnam’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
30jobs based in Farnam
0%of working residents work in town
25 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Farnam
Village in Nebraska, United States
Farnam is a village in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States. It is part of the Lexington, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, Farnam had a population of 182.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,753 ft
- ZIP code
- 69029
Questions about Farnam
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Farnam, NE a good place to live?
Farnam has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.